Marjorie Taylor Greene Slams Donald Trump Over His H-1B Visa and Foreign Students Remarks
By yash raj
Greene’s new bill to scrap the H-1B system puts her squarely at odds with Trump, who now argues that America must continue welcoming top global talent.
US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has introduced a bill aimed at eliminating the H-1B visa programme entirely, arguing that American workers are more than capable of filling the country’s technological and professional needs. Her proposal arrives at a time when Indian nationals dominate the H-1B system—holding nearly 70% of all visas—and send an estimated $32–33 billion in annual remittances to India.
Industry reports further suggest that Indian engineers and developers make up around 30% of Silicon Valley’s tech workforce, underscoring their deep integration within the American innovation economy.
Announcing her plan on X (formerly Twitter), Greene stated:
“I am introducing a bill to END the mass replacement of American workers by aggressively phasing out the H1B program.”
Trump’s Recent Remarks
Former President Donald Trump has taken a sharply different position from Greene, recently defending the H-1B programme during a Fox News interview. He argued that the United States lacks sufficient domestic expertise for certain high-skill roles in technology, defense manufacturing, and advanced research.
Responding to claims that America already has enough talent, Trump said:
“No, you don’t. You don’t have certain talents… people have to learn!”
He added that specialised roles cannot simply be filled by unemployed workers without experience:
“You can’t take people off an unemployment line and say ‘I’m gonna put you into a factory where we’re gonna make missiles.’ It doesn’t work that way.”
To address what he calls systemic abuses, Trump has also backed a $100,000 annual fee for new H-1B applicants and strengthened federal oversight. These measures have triggered legal challenges from business groups and sparked internal debates among lawmakers and his own supporters.
Why It Matters
Greene’s proposal highlights a growing ideological split within the Republican Party over legal immigration and America’s long-term labour strategy.
While hardliners like Greene want the US to cut reliance on foreign professionals, Trump’s evolving stance suggests the opposite—arguing that the country must continue to attract top global talent to remain competitive in cutting-edge fields.
Because Indian workers make up the vast majority of H-1B beneficiaries, any overhaul of the programme could reshape the talent pipeline feeding US tech companies, affect India–US economic ties, and influence global hiring patterns across the technology sector.
What to Know
Greene’s bill seeks a full phase-out of the H-1B programme, which currently allows US employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers in key industries such as software engineering, cybersecurity, biotech, and advanced manufacturing.
Indian nationals hold nearly 70% of H-1B visas and send tens of billions of dollars home annually, benefiting India’s economy while powering American innovation.
Indian engineers account for nearly 30% of Silicon Valley’s workforce, making them a critical part of US tech infrastructure.
Trump has shifted his tone, insisting the US still needs specialised foreign experts for defense and high-tech sectors, saying America does not have enough domestic talent in certain fields.
The Trump administration has pushed a $100,000 annual fee for new H-1B filings and rolled out stricter oversight, resulting in around 175 ongoing investigations into alleged programme abuses.
Employer groups have launched legal challenges, and Trump’s stance has created uncertainty about the future direction of immigration policy.
Greene responded sharply, reiterating that American workers are “creative, intelligent, and hardworking,” and should not be replaced by foreign labour.
Comments
Post a Comment